Baker County OR

Makin, William – Obituary

To the capable and enterprising citizen whose name initiates this paragraph we are pleased to accord a representation in the history of Wallowa county, since he has trod the path of the pioneer in a worthy manner, displaying constantly qualities of moral worth and value, and has achieved a success in temporal affairs that is commendable and praiseworthy, being the meed of continuity in wisely directed effort and energy and sagacity in all of his ways, and consequently it is very fitting that he should be placed to-day as one of the prominent men of the county, which position he … Read more

Biography of John A. Wagner

JOHN A. WAGNER. Deceased- In the person of the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this article we have one of the first of Union county’s settlers and a man who bore the brunt of assisting to open upthis section for the settlement of man and in developing the same, while he was ever enterprising and progressive, both in his private business operations as well as in the interests of the welfare of the county at large, and it is eminently fitting that a memorial be accorded to him in these abiding chronicles of our county, where … Read more

Biography of J.M. Mitchell

No compilation of the annals of Wallowa county would be complete without especial mention of the esteemed subject of this article and his faithful wife, who were among the earliest pioneers here and who have labored with energy and assiduity Since in the up building and advancement of the county. J.M. Mitchell was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, on November 18,1 848, being the son of Frederick and Rebecca Mitchell. The father was born in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, in January 1808, while the mother was born in that city on December 31, 1808. They were of Irish and … Read more

Gagnepain, Dale Francis – Obituary

Dale Francis Gagnepain, 70, of Hermiston, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 4, 2009, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. His military graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Hermiston Cemetery. He was born at Elmhurst, Ill., on Oct. 25, 1938, to Edgar and Ruth Gagnepain. Dale was retired from work as a telephone company fiber optics technician. He was a veteran and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. Dale was a resident of Hermiston for 26 years and also had lived in Baker City for 14 years. His hobbies included … Read more

Dalton, James Everett – Obituary

James Everett Dalton, 81, of Umatilla and formerly of Baker City and La Grande, died Aug. 28, 2007, at his home. His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Dalton was born on March 14, 1926, the son of Isaac Clayton and Stella Viola March Dalton, in La Grande. After graduating from La Grande High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served his country until he was honorably discharged in May of 1946. Mr. Dalton was employed as … Read more

Emele, Laura – Obituary

Mrs. Laura Emele, 76, of 2005 Grove Street, died Saturday morning at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Mrs. Emele was born on April 19, 1882, to Lambert and Emily Hough at Memphis, Scotland County, Missouri. She came to Oregon with her family in 1900 and settled in Barker. She attended her last year of high school in Baker, then taught school for three years in Baker county. She was married to Ben D. Emele in Baker on October 9, 1907. They moved to Haines in 1908 where she lived until she moved back to Baker in 1955. She was a member of … Read more

Aldrich, Elvin – Obituary

Haines, Baker County, Oregon Elvin Aldrich Haines Native Died Jan. 30 Elvin Dutch Aldrich,79 of Haines/Rock Creek passed away Saturday, Jan.30 at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. Mr. Aldrich was born May 16, 1902 in Bear Valley, Or., Grant Co. to Mr. and Mrs. Elery F. and Dessie E. Helmick-Aldrich. He attended schools in Bear Valley and came to the Rock Creek area at the age of 19. He married Mona Yankey in Baker, on May 23, 1929. They ranched together at Rock Creek for many years in which pet peacocks were a common sight on their ranch. He was the … Read more

Newton, Laura Kirk Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Laura Newton, 95, of Baker City, died May 30, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Debbie Livingston of St. Elizabeth Health Care Center will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Gray’s West & Co. Visitations will be tonight until 6 o’clock at the funeral home. Laura was born on Sept. 26, 1906, at Hartsville, Mo., to Edward and Elsie Hall Kirk. She married Henry Newton on April 24, 1929, … Read more

Cummings, J. Merle – Obituary

J. Merle Cummings, 90, of Unity, died Aug. 24, 2008, at Baker City. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. PDT Saturday at the Vale Christian Church. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Visitations will precede the service at 9 a.m. PDT. Interment will be at Valley View Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for dinner at Vale Christian Church after the service. Merle was born on Jan. 10, 1918, at Burns to Austin and Bessie Cummings. His parents later divorced. He lived at The Dalles during a part of his early elementary … Read more

Johnson, William “Leigh” – Obituary

Haines, Oregon William “Leigh” Johnson, 97, of Haines, died Feb. 8, 2007, at his home. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 42171 Chico Road, the corner of 17th Street and Pocahontas Road. Pastor Tony Brandon of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will officiate. Interment will be Tuesday at the family pioneer cemetery at Silver Creek. Leigh was born on March 7, 1909, at Burns to Alfred and Caroline Johnson. He was raised and received his early schooling at Suntex, now known as Riley, in the Silver Creek Valley. During his teenage years, his mother … Read more

Rowan, F. MaRee Beigh Mrs. – Obituary

F. MaRee Beigh Rowan, 74, died May 14, 2008, at her home in Sumpter. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a graveside service at 3 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. Friends are invited to join the family at the Lions Park for a celebration of life party in MaRee’s honor after the service. MaRee was the daughter of Millard and Florence Beigh of Cambridge, Idaho. She was born and raised at Cambridge. She married the love of her life, Durwood “Jim” Rowan of Ontario, on Nov. … Read more

Henner, Dorothy Jane “Dot” Hall Mrs. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Dorothy Jane “Dot” Henner, 73, of Haines, died July 29, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request, there will be no services. Mrs. Henner was born Nov. 11, 1927, at Baker City to James and Mabel York Hall along with her twin brother, Donald, who preceded her in death in the early 1970s. She married John E. Henner Jr. in 1946 in Baker City, and lived and worked in Haines until 1960, when the couple moved to Irrigon. After living in the Hermiston area for seven years, she and her husband moved to The Dalles; they … Read more

Walker, Girtha Gwen Bainbridge Mrs. – Obituary

Girtha Gwen Walker, 81, of Kennewick, Wash., passed away, Tuesday, July 29, 2003, following a brief illness at Kennewick. At her request, there were no services. Girtha was born to Rachel and William Bainbridge on Dec 11, 1922, in Fentonia, Idaho. She was raised in North Powder by her mother and stepfather William R. Nice. She married William J. Walker on July 9, 1938, in Weiser, Idaho. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, William J. Walker of Kennewick, her son, Larry Walker of Kennewick, daughter and husband, Leanne and Steve McCalmant of Montana, brother Ben Bainbridge of … Read more

Foster, Helen E. Mrs. – Obituary

Helen E. Foster, 92, a longtime Baker resident, died June 25, 2004, at her home. At her request cremation was held and there will be no services. Helen Elizabeth Foster was born Oct. 22, 1911, in Poland, one of seven children. She attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area. Upon graduation from high school, she packed her bags, got on a train and ventured out West to Sun Valley, Idaho, where she was employed as a personal maid to the movie stars who vacationed there. She proudly told stories of meeting many of the big screen actors and actresses and … Read more

Long, Rush Ernest – Obituary

Rush Ernest Long, 86, of Pine Creek, died March 6, 2005, at his home. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Oxbow Christian Fellowship Church at the Oxbow Schoolhouse. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the church after the service. Rush Ernest was born on Sept. 3, 1918, to Elizabeth and Harry Long at Ponca City, Okla. He was raised and educated at Ponca City. His parents were ranchers until the Depression. They moved to California in 1936. In 1938 he married Mary Cecil at Compton, Calif. Early in his life … Read more

Lee, Gladys E. Ridenour Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gladys E. Lee, 96, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 18, 2001, at St Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Mrs. Lee was born Oct. 29, 1905, at Exeter, Mo., to Charles and Rosa Ridenour. Gladys Ridenour and James Larkin Lee were married in the spring of 1924. She was a member of the … Read more

Menolascina, Kay Sharon Phillips Mrs. – Obituary

Kay Sharon Menolascina, 68, of Baker City, died July 16, 2009, at an adult foster care home after an extended illness. At her request, her body was cremated. Private inturnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Menolascina was born on Nov. 17, 1940, at Oregon City to Raymond I. and Emma “Jean” Phillips. Kay graduated from Franklin High School where she sang in the choir. She also attended Business College. For more than 10 years she and her husband, Dino, operated D & K Detector Sales, a successful metal detecting and prospecting business they started together in 1968 in … Read more

Davies, Thomas Carol “Tommy” – Obituary

Thomas Carol “Tommy” Davies of Princeton died on his 84th birthday, Jan. 3, 2006, at the home he was born in on the family ranch. Burial was Saturday at the Burns Cemetery. Tom was born on Jan. 3, 1922, at Princeton to J.W. “Bill” and Catherine “Mae” Barnhart Davies. He was the youngest of four sons. The boys attended grade school one mile from the ranch along with the neighbors’ children, some of whom became lifelong friends. Tommy had many happy memories of helping herd the family sheep on Steens Mountain, of running wild horses and of helping family and … Read more

Miller, Leona B. Brinkerhuff Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Leona B. Miller, 96, a longtime Halfway and Baker City resident and recently of Canby, died Jan. 5, 2004, at the home of her daughter, Roberta J. Hilger, and her husband, John. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Vault interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church. Leona was born on Oct. 15, 1907, to John Weir Brinkerhuff and Myrtle Alice Dingman at Collbran, Colo. They moved to Oregon when … Read more

Stading, Betty L. Walters Mrs. – Obituary

Betty L. Stading, 79, of Baker City, died July 13, 2007, at the Settler’s Park Memory Care Community. Betty was born on July 22, 1927, in Indianapolis to Clarence and Iva Carlisle Walters. Betty worked for Boeing Co. for 35 years as a flight control rigger before retiring in 1989. Betty enjoyed hiking, fishing, and traveling. Survivors include her daughters, Carol Zurcher of Colorado and Diane Walker of Washington; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 19, 2007 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor